The Sound Blaster Audigy 2 delivers 106dB SNR and is the only stand-alone sound card with THX® certification, for cinematic 6.1 surround sound from Dolby Digital® EX movies and unparalleled realism from the hundreds of existing DirectSound® 3D game titles. The Sound Blaster Audigy 2 enables 24-bit/96kHz recording, and also provides digital music enthusiasts with the next generation Creative MediaSource™ player for a variety of digital music enhancements, including up-mix of stereo MP3 music into full 6.1 surround sound. The Sound Blaster Audigy 2 and Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum are both slated for worldwide shipment in October.

"With Creative's introduction of the Sound Blaster Audigy 2, DVD-Audio has achieved another important milestone," said Paul Vidich executive vice president, strategic planning and business development for Warner Music Group. "Consumers are experiencing the full sonic power of DVD-A on home stereos, in cars and now, on the PC. The music industry's leading artists have released hundreds of DVD-A titles that are playable in more than 60 million DVD Video, DVD-ROM and PlayStation® players in the U.S. market and that are sold in more than 2,000 retail locations. Creative is the latest industry leader to choose DVD-Audio as the format for advanced resolution, multi-channel audio."

The Sound Blaster Audigy 2 is the only PC audio solution to enable Advanced Resolution DVD-Audio at 24-bit/192kHz in stereo and 24-bit/96kHz in 5.1. DVD-Audio is the highest resolution recorded music available for the PC. With up to five times the audio detail of CD-Audio, higher sampling frequencies and loss-less compression, DVD-Audio reveals amazingly precise musical elements that are not audible from media such as CD or tape.